WEEK 11 PLAYOFFS PROBABILITY: DOWN BUT NOT OUT
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playoff hopes took a significant hit after yet another close loss at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10.
The current 4-game losing streak has placed the BUCS in a precarious position entering their bye week. On the one hand, there's a chance the BUCS lose ground to both the Saints (3-7), who are coming off of upset wins against the Division-leading Falcons. On the other, with the week off, the team gets much-needed time to rest and heal injured players needed to make a push to the postseason.
The Carolina Panthers(3-7), who are also coming off a surprise win, will be on their bye week in Week 11 as well.
GAME TO WATCH
The most crucial game for BUCS fans to pay attention to takes place in the Rockies. The Falcons take on the Denver Broncos, another team with a victory against Tampa Bay.
Beyond the Divisional record, one of the tie-breakers for the Playoffs is win-lost-tied percentage against common opponents. Since the Broncos bested the BUCS back in Week 3, BUCS fans need to be rooting for the Denver to beat Atlanta so that the Falcons don't have yet another tie-breaker in their favor in case things get tight heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Currently, the Falcons(6-4) have the advantages of the overall better record and the head-to-head matchup against the Buccaneers. This essentially amounts to a 3-game lead in the Playoff Picture. But that can change depending on the outcome of this week's game against the Broncos. However, the Falcons did split the series with the Saints 1-1 this year. And the BUCS will face New Orleans to end the regular season in Week 18. That game could serve as the one that determines the NFC South winner for 2024.
But there’s a lot of football to play between now and January.
It was considered an upset when the Broncos pulled off the victory against the Buccaneers in Week 3. That may not be the case if they win against Atlanta. The Falcons are coming off their version of an improbable loss after going down at the hands of New Orleans 17-20 on the road. Atlanta has had a streak of some of the tightest wins seen in a long while. All but one of their victories have been by 6 points or less. They’ll be going up against the #4 Ranked defense(Points Allowed) when they make their way to the cold to battle Denver.
ATL 13th-Ranked Offense(Points Scored) 23.8
DEN 4th-Ranked Defense(Points Allowed) 17.7
DEN 22nd-Ranked Offense(Points Scored) 19.7
ATL 20th-Ranked Defense( Points Allowed) 23.6
Not as big of an immediate impact, but the matchup between NFC North rivals Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers is another game to look out for.
The Packers enter Week 11 as the #6 Seed in the Playoff Picture. Like the BUCS, the Bears are on the outside looking in. However, Chicago's at #8 while Tampa's at #12. A Bears win in Green Bay will help the Buccaneers.